Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-21
A FIENDISH CRIME.
Brutal Murder of Joseph C. Kennedy
a Prominent Citizen of
Washington.
The Act Committed by John Daily a
Worthless Fellow With
Butcher Knife.
A Brutal Murder.

WASHINGTON, July 15.-The most SEN
sational murder in Was hington since the
assassination of President Garfield, was
committed this evening opposite the
northeastern end of the treasury build
ing. Joseph G. Kennedy, attorney and
real estate agent, one of the oldest resi-
dents in Washington and personal &C.
qualntance of many of the most prom
inent people at the national capital, was
murdered in cold blood, apparently with
out provocation by John Daily, white
labOrer. A few minutes before O'Clock,
Kennedy left his Office and crossed the
street, where he mailed several letters
and started to take a car. When within
a few feet of the car, Daily, who had been
lettering around the corner several hours,
walked up behind him, and drawing a
large, keen bladed knife, similar to those
used by butchers for killing hogs, ran it
into Kennedy's right side, near the abdo-
men, with
VICIOUS LUNGE,
and then gave it jerk sidewise. large
crowd was on the corner at the time,
but all were so horror stricken for mo-
ment that no one moved. Kennedy fell
to the ground after giving cry of ''mur-
,
murderer who made no attem pit to escape.
The knife dropped out of Kennedy's side
as a physician came up. A Waterman
seized Dolly, who stood looking on, APP
parently the most unconcerned and self
possessed man ia the crowd. Kennedy ex-
pired in five minutes. His body was re-
moved to the police station. Excitement
rose rapidly, and the crowd grew bolster
Gus, threatening to hang the murderer.
Daily paid but little attention and refused
to say why he committed the crime.
Once, when provoked by the crowd, he
turned squarely round and said: eyes,
killed him, d-m him!" He is a man of
about so years of age and apparently a
AT the station house he
told
RAMBLING, INCoHERENT STORY.
about the affair, of which the general pur-
port was that Kennedy had wronged his
father years ago-secured property worth
1000 for $500 and refused to make
restitution. The murdered man was about
rs years old, of an old Maryland family,
and one of the most respected citizens in
Washington. He was grandson of
who, at the request of President
surveyed the ten miles
square incorporated as the District of
Columbia. He was a prominent politician
Ia earlier days, and an ardent adherent of
the old whig party. At one time he edited
The Franklin PA Intelligencer. Hew
an intimate friend of ex Senator Conklin,
Atty. Gen. Garland, ". w. Corcoran, and
a large number of other people. He
leaves an unmarried daughter, Sallie Ken
nedy; son Joseph Kennedy, and one
married daughter, the wife of Gen. Biddle,
a wealthy Californian. Kennedy was a
man of considerable property.
JOSEPH O. G. KENNEDY,
the victim of most brutal an unprovok-
ed assassination this evening, was for
many years one of the best known and
most highly respected citizens of Wash
ington. He was the perintendent of
the census of 1850 after Debow's retire
ment and superintendent of the census
of 1860. He was a man of remarkable
eruditiOn, eminent for his classical at
and recognized authority on
all questions of our national history and
affairs. For a generation or
more he was an Intimate friend of nearly
all our public men. Before the war he
was an anti-slavery democrat, and friend
of Charles Sumner. When Brooks made
his attack on Sumner Kennedy rushed in
and ipterfered in Mr., Summers behalf.
Scion Borland, ar ex-senator from Ar
kansas, encountered him, and knocked
him down with blow that broke his nos e
and marked Mr.. Kennedy for life. Mr.
Kennedy was intimate with President
Lincoln and President Garfield, and such
men as William Pitt Fessenden and
Reverdy Johnson. The letters that he
has received make most valuable auto
graph collection. His Office, in queer
little old one-story brick building on Fiji
teenth street just above Pennsylvania
avenue, was perfect museum, and at his
home he had an exceptionally fine collec-
ton of rare books. He was very liberal
man, and, with comfortable means but
not great wealth, he did great deal to
assist the people of gentle breeding who
had lost every thing by the war, and who
were fortunate enough to be his friends.
His murderer is drunken loafer whose
act was an outbreak of pure, unprovoked
devilishness.